Smoke Artist Derek Johnson Joins Drive Thru Editorial

DMN Newswire--2008-11-3--Full service digital post house Drive Thru Editorial, the editorial division of Drive Thru, Inc., announced that Smoke artist Derek Johnson has joined the company roster.

"We're thrilled to have Derek on board," said Drive Thru Editorial partner Bob George. "With national ad campaigns continuing to set the standard for visual effects, it's crucial to be able to provide the top quality editorial and VFX that our customers demand. Adding a Smoke artist to our team allows us to increase our efficiency in handling complex jobs, and frees me up to focus more on Flame and 3D projects."

"From the moment we first met, I knew Derek would be the perfect addition to our roster," added Drive Thru, Inc. founder Mark Setterholm. "We have a very collaborative environment here at Drive Thru. Derek really sparks to that, and I know he and Bob will make a great team."

Johnson joins Drive Thru Editorial from Crash+Sues, where he worked on commercial projects for brands such as Best Buy, FedEx and Target, among others. Johnson started at Crash+Sues almost 12 years ago, initially working in the back room of the duplication department. He quickly rose to the editorial side of things, assisting Gary "Crash" Medin when he was still an editor, and was soon given his own linear edit suite. As Johnson continued to develop his skill set he made the transition into online and offline editing in Final Cut Pro, before finally moving on to become a Smoke artist, a job he performed for the last five years. Operating Autodesk Smoke at Crash+Sues, Johnson worked with ad agencies big and small, including BBDO, Carmichael Lynch and Fallon, and on projects shot by Academy Award-nominee DP Wally Pfister, among others.

"I'm excited to be working with Bob George and the rest of the Drive Thru team. I love the creative side of what I do, and the collaborative nature of the work. Even finishing work allows me to add something to the mix. It's the last stop in the process, so it requires a very detail-oriented approach," Johnson commented. "From a technology standpoint, Drive Thru seems to be ahead of the curve with artist's tools and workflows, including the latest version of Autodesk Smoke, and I'm really looking forward to being a part of that."

About Drive Thru EditorialDrive Thru Editorial, the editorial division of Drive Thru, Inc., is a full-service digital post house specializing in creative editorial and visual effects for commercial projects throughout the Midwest and beyond. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Drive Thru has a reputation for high quality work built over nearly 25 years of partnerships with top ad agencies in the region. Founded in 1985, Drive Thru Editorial is led by partners Mark Setterholm and Bob George. Drive Thru is equipped with state-of-the-art tools, including the latest in 3D technology, and maintains a talented roster of artists working in a boutique environment to provide the highest standard of creative editorial, visual effects and finishing services. For more information, call 612-338-4656 or visit www.drivethrutv.com.